The Invisibility of Breastfeeding

By Monika Goodluck

I am pretty certain that, if you’re the average person, you will remember if you have ever seen someone breastfeeding. These memories tend to stick because, in reality, breastfeeding still seems to be, fairly invisible to the general public. This is despite our provincial law, outlined in the Ontario Human Rights Code (OHRC), which protects the right to breastfeed a child in public spaces:

“You have rights as a breastfeeding mother, including the right to breastfeed a child in a public area. No one should prevent you from breastfeeding your child simply because you are in a public area. They should not ask you to “cover up,” disturb you, or ask you to move to another area that is more “discreet.”

Oftentimes, breastfeeding happens in spaces that are out of the public eye in spaces like homes, birth centres, hospitals, child-centred settings, and ‘nursing’ rooms. But what are mothers doing outside of these settings? Typically, breastfed children, especially babies, nurse frequently – anywhere from every hour to every 2-4 hours. It can then be reasonably expected that a mother will need to breastfeed her child in a public space on a fairly regular basis.

Why should breastfeeding be more visible?

There is a lot of documentation that emphasizes the important role of social support in encouraging breastfeeding. Making breastfeeding more visible makes it more socially acceptable, which contributes positively to normalizing breastfeeding. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that, “Adequate breastfeeding counselling and support are essential for mothers and families to initiate and maintain optimal breastfeeding practices.”

What can you do to support the visibility of breastfeeding?

Create a welcoming environment in your workplace, service space, community space, and let everyone know that you support and encourage breastfeeding anytime, anyplace. There are already many resources and ideas available to draw from in Ontario. You don’t have to be engaged in maternal/child health work to support breastfeeding publicly. Anyone, any group, any place can show support.

1. Post your support publicly

A quick web and social media search will generate many ideas for logos, images, hashtags that you can use to publicly support breastfeeding. Put up posters in heavily trafficked areas, add a logo to your website, share supportive messaging via your social media channels. Formal and fun materials can be easily found.

The Baby Friendly Initiative of Ontario, in partnership with York Region Public Health, produced a series of posters in English and French that can be downloaded. Just Food, in collaboration with Ottawa Public Health, developed this welcoming sign that could easily be adapted. And to remind everyone that it’s not just babies who breastfeed (the recommendation is to continue to breastfeed till the child is at least 2 years old), the Public Health Agency of Canada developed this poster in English and French.

For further inspiration on multimedia campaigns, check out the Kids First Huron-Perth’s ongoing initiative to encourage breastfeeding and breastfeeding in public. The campaign included life-sized cutouts and posters displayed across the region (including on public transit), videos, posters, blogs, and social media groups.

2. Use engaging activities and videos to increase awareness and knowledge about breastfeeding and breastfeeding in public

There are so many more ways to support breastfeeding in public. Public Health Units in Ontario offer a range of supports and signage to help you promote breastfeeding and there is much more information available about breastfeeding, in general, via www.beststart.org and www.breastfeedingresourcesontario.ca.

And, of course, there are the simple things you can do when you see someone breastfeeding anywhere – offer a seat, thumbs up, word of encouragement, a glass of water, or just smile “The Places You’ll Feed” is a variation on a Dr. Seuss classic that offers humourous homage to the pride, hilarity, frustration, and deep satisfaction that comes from breastfeeding a child in public and private spaces. Whatever you do, do not ask a breastfeeding mother to move because someone else is uncomfortable with seeing her breastfeed and, under no circumstances, should anyone suggest that a child be breastfed in a bathroom. Sudbury & District Health Unit got the message right in this video – there is no need to hide!